Violations

A violation of the Act is a serious matter and may result in a court-imposed fine up to $5,000 per violation, or up to $25,000 per violation where certain aggravating or egregious factors exist as provided in the Act. A party affected by an alleged violation of HB 3571 may file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office within forty-five days of the alleged violation. Upon receipt of the complaint, the Attorney General’s Office must refer the complaint to South Carolina 811 (SC811) for an investigation.

SC811 facilitates the submission of complaint forms, conducts research, and monitors tracking where violation complaints are in process. SC811 and the Office of the Attorney General (SCAG) will not participate in civil disputes or civil matters between persons or play a role in resolutions of personal property damage.

Submitting a Violation Complaint to the Attorney General

If you would like to report a complaint involving violations of South Carolina excavation laws, please submit your detailed complaint online through the following link https://agcomplaint.sc811.com/ or use the QR code below. If you believe a violation of the South Carolina Underground Damage Prevention Act has occurred, you may submit a complaint for review.

Or you can fill out the form here, and email the form and any supporting documents or photos to violations@sc811.com

Before You Submit!

To help ensure your complaint can be properly reviewed and processed, please gather as much information and supporting documentation as possible before starting. 

Incomplete complaints may delay the review process. 

Providing the following information on the complaint form will help with the process: 

“Who? What? Where? When? How?”

• Date and time of incident  
• Street address (to include City)/location of incident  
• Description of what occurred  
• Type of work being performed  
• Whether damage occurred  
• Whether injuries or service outages occurred  
• Name of company/person performing excavation  
• Utility/operator involved (if known)  

Locate Ticket Numbers associated with the incident

Photo Upload

The following formats are supported on the complaint form:

• PNG
• JPG
• JPEG
• PDF

Please include clear photos. Photos that may be considered evidence are the following:

Site Conditions

• Overall excavation area

Utility Markings

• Paint markings near or around the dig site
• Flags or stakes
• Missing or faded markings
• Relation of markings to excavation area

Utility Damages

• Damaged utility line or facility
• Equipment involved in the area of excavation
• Ground disturbance
• Restoration efforts

You may also upload (if available):

• Maps or sketches
• Ticket screenshots
• Emails or written communication
• Damage reports
• Repair documentation or internal damage and/or incident reports
• Witness statements

Best Practices When Submitting a Complaint

To help avoid delays:

• Be as specific and factual as possible
• Include dates, times, and locations
• Upload clear and readable photos/documents
• Avoid assumptions or opinions when describing events
• Include all parties involved if known
• Submit all available evidence at one time

What Happens After Submission?

Step 1 – Complaint Review 

Your complaint will be reviewed for validity. If additional information is needed, you may be contacted.  

Step 2 – Investigation Process 

If the complaint falls within the scope of the SC Underground Damage Prevention Act, it may proceed through the established review and investigation process. 

This may include: 

• Review of locate tickets  

• Review of submitted evidence  

• Requests for additional documentation  

• Contact with the involved parties  

Step 3 – Recommendation 

Once reviewed, a recommendation will be made in accordance with applicable procedures and requirements under the law. 

You may be notified regarding: 

• Requests for clarification  

• Final outcomes or resolutions (when applicable)  

Helpful Links

Attorney General Complaint Form

Memorandum of Understanding

View Updated State Law – New Law Effective May 22, 2026

Enforcement Adequacy By State

FAQ

Can I submit a complaint anonymously? 

No. Complaint forms are not confidential and may be disclosed to the reported party or entity. Additionally, all submissions are subject to disclosure pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act Ā 30-4-10 et seq. 

What if I’m not quite certain I have a valid complaint? 

Please contact us at violations@sc811.com with any questions. We’re more than happy to assist you.  

What if I do not have all the information required to submit a complaint? 

You may still submit a complaint; however, missing information may delay review. 

Will I receive updates during this process? 

Upon completion of the complaint process, the Attorney General may reach out to you regarding the complaint via email.  

How long does the process take? 

Timeframes vary depending on complexity and completeness of the submission. 

What’s the max size limit for uploading photos/evidence? 

The max size limit is 5MB per upload. If you have larger files you should consider reducing the file size of the documents/photos you wish to upload. Please keep in mind the upload process takes time, depending on the size of your uploads, number of uploads, and your network speed. 

Do I receive compensation for any damages for submitting this complaint? 

No. The purpose of the complaint is to notify the state attorney general of a violation of the law. SC811 and the Office of the Attorney General will not participate in civil disputes or civil matters between persons or play a role in resolutions of personal property damage.